These suggestions were compiled by previous study abroad students and CIP Peer
Advisors.
As Peer Advisors in the CIP, and as recently returned students, we understand how tumultuous the last few weeks of study abroad can be.
Leaving your host country can be confusing and unnerving – returning to the United States may be even more so.
We recognize that your time abroad is beginning to draw to a close and that you might be feeling a looming apprehension about what to expect upon leaving. Thus, we’ve compiled a little bit of information about the process of leaving your host country, along with some helpful tips we learned from our own study abroad experiences.
First and foremost, it is important to know that feeling unsettled about leaving your host country is natural.
Additionally, it’s also quite common to struggle to readjust to home life and to campus life. You’ve just had a lengthy overseas stay that has been a physically and emotionally challenging experience which has allowed you to grow and change in some ways.
Reintegrating yourself into your American life may be just as tough and awkward as your initial integration into your study abroad country.
One way to ease the transition between leaving your host country and reintegrating into your native culture is to take the time to properly and fully say goodbye to your host culture.
We, your faithful Peer Advisors, have compiled our own list of suggestions based on our own experiences:
• Take photos of your campus, living space, neighborhood, and surrounding areas so you can remember them and share them with your family and friends
• Cook dinner for your host family
• Pick out some thoughtful gifts to leave with your host family that will remind them of the time you spent with them
• Make time to hang out with all of your closest friends
• Visit your favorite hangouts with friends and reminisce about all the good times you spent there
• Definitely set time aside for thorough ‘last’ goodbyes with friends and host families
• Get an address book to put the contact info of all your friends
• Say goodbye to your professors and thank them
• Re-visit a place you went when you first arrived and reflect on how that place feels differently now • Buy any last minute souvenirs for yourself and to give as gifts
• Buy a local newspaper or magazine to keep
• Take care of last minute shopping (especially for things that you can’t get back home)
• Enjoy some of your favorite foods that you may not be able to get in the United States
• Go out to dinner at the place you thought was too expensive
• Figure out regulations regarding what kinds of souvenirs you can take home: there may be limitations on things like food and alcohol (despite your host country’s drinking age, you must be 21 to bring alcohol into the United States…)
• Start thinking of ways to be upfront with your family and friends back home about how you are feeling – write emails or make phone calls to share what you will miss from study abroad and ask them to be patient with you when you have ups and downs as you reintegrate
As you move through these last few weeks, take time to prepare for your departure. During this process, keep in mind that you are not only saying goodbye to your host country, but preparing yourself to reintegrate into your native culture.
Remember to reflect on your time abroad, and be open to changes at home.
These next few weeks may be difficult for you. Feeling unsettled, nostalgic, and confused can be tough, but these feelings are natural for many travelers.
Once you finally return to campus, there are many opportunities to reflect on and to share your experience abroad.
Original article file:///C:/Users/hanlie/Downloads/Transition_Tips_for_Departing_Your_Host_Country_MASTER.pdf
As Peer Advisors in the CIP, and as recently returned students, we understand how tumultuous the last few weeks of study abroad can be.
Leaving your host country can be confusing and unnerving – returning to the United States may be even more so.
We recognize that your time abroad is beginning to draw to a close and that you might be feeling a looming apprehension about what to expect upon leaving. Thus, we’ve compiled a little bit of information about the process of leaving your host country, along with some helpful tips we learned from our own study abroad experiences.
First and foremost, it is important to know that feeling unsettled about leaving your host country is natural.
Additionally, it’s also quite common to struggle to readjust to home life and to campus life. You’ve just had a lengthy overseas stay that has been a physically and emotionally challenging experience which has allowed you to grow and change in some ways.
Reintegrating yourself into your American life may be just as tough and awkward as your initial integration into your study abroad country.
One way to ease the transition between leaving your host country and reintegrating into your native culture is to take the time to properly and fully say goodbye to your host culture.
We, your faithful Peer Advisors, have compiled our own list of suggestions based on our own experiences:
• Take photos of your campus, living space, neighborhood, and surrounding areas so you can remember them and share them with your family and friends
• Cook dinner for your host family
• Pick out some thoughtful gifts to leave with your host family that will remind them of the time you spent with them
• Make time to hang out with all of your closest friends
• Visit your favorite hangouts with friends and reminisce about all the good times you spent there
• Definitely set time aside for thorough ‘last’ goodbyes with friends and host families
• Get an address book to put the contact info of all your friends
• Say goodbye to your professors and thank them
• Re-visit a place you went when you first arrived and reflect on how that place feels differently now • Buy any last minute souvenirs for yourself and to give as gifts
• Buy a local newspaper or magazine to keep
• Take care of last minute shopping (especially for things that you can’t get back home)
• Enjoy some of your favorite foods that you may not be able to get in the United States
• Go out to dinner at the place you thought was too expensive
• Figure out regulations regarding what kinds of souvenirs you can take home: there may be limitations on things like food and alcohol (despite your host country’s drinking age, you must be 21 to bring alcohol into the United States…)
• Start thinking of ways to be upfront with your family and friends back home about how you are feeling – write emails or make phone calls to share what you will miss from study abroad and ask them to be patient with you when you have ups and downs as you reintegrate
As you move through these last few weeks, take time to prepare for your departure. During this process, keep in mind that you are not only saying goodbye to your host country, but preparing yourself to reintegrate into your native culture.
Remember to reflect on your time abroad, and be open to changes at home.
These next few weeks may be difficult for you. Feeling unsettled, nostalgic, and confused can be tough, but these feelings are natural for many travelers.
Once you finally return to campus, there are many opportunities to reflect on and to share your experience abroad.
Original article file:///C:/Users/hanlie/Downloads/Transition_Tips_for_Departing_Your_Host_Country_MASTER.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment